Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive 2012 - Preview - Atithi Gupta

You wouldn’t believe the weather in Mumbai. The Sun, it seems, has gone on a vacation. It’s grey and Monsoon clouds are looming, but little to no rain. Mumbai, my friends, could do with some festive cheer. And we are now just a week away from an ample dose of just what the doctor ordered, the Lakme Fashion Week Winter festive 2012, is almost here! The line-up and the schedule is up on the website, and I am all geared up for the shows. Here, in Shotcouture, like ever season, I am doing a set of previews from the collections of the designers showing at Lakme, some new, some old favorites. And one name that has found iself on the pages of Shotcouture, season after season, is the versatile Atithi Gupta. Having made her debut as a Gen-next designer at the Lakme Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2009, Atithi has returned to the Lakme Fashion Week several times, everytime showcasing a collection that inspires and amazes. Her upcoming collection, titled ‘Azul’ a Spanish word, which means "blue" , concentrates more on feminine, minimalistic, wearable wear in a colour palette of strong blues, pastel powdery purples to greys and blacks. Atithi returns to the Lakme Runway with a collection that plays with georgettes, wrinkled crepe, chiffons and cotton silks, fabrics that create movement for strong woman. Every outfit is adorned with details of fine pleats, with tops, jumpsuits, and dresses suitable for both day and night wear. The collection is designed to adorn and follow the movements of the body, communicating through both form and feeling. I find Atithi’s designs very contemporary, with a subtle underlining of modern day romance. Even in this dull Mumbai weather, they evoke memories of moonlit nights and sunshine filled mornings. For now, I am leaving you to grab a quick cup of late afternoon coffee, but not before posting a couple of pictures from Atithi’s upcoming collection.

Lakme Fashion Week - Winter Festive 2010 - Rohan Arora

My bad fortunes continue! No sooner had I recovered, my dad was hospitalized with Hypoglycemia. It was a big scare for all of us, as appare4nlty it can get really serious! I am about done with trying times. Today is another day, and it’s bright and sunny outside, and I am not going to let a little bit of stormy weather get in the way of the last traces of summer we have left to enjoy.
The last of day of Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive had a delightful surprise for the fashion lovers. The accessories show featured the extremely talented Rohan Arora. I met Rohan at his stall at “The Source”. An amicable, unassuming young designer, all smiles and filled with enthusiasm about his new collection. “The shoes are all hand-made, with a mix of printed fabrics, hand-painted khadi, and leather”, he informed the curious crowd naturally attracted to the quirky and colorful collection. Having started his label in 2008, Rohan has been creating high-end fashion footwear for numerous big names in Indian fashion design.
His collection featured at the Lakme Fashion Week was an eclectic mix of colors, with hand-painted posters of old films painted on strikingly edgy footwear. Models walked the ramp sporting ankle and calf length boots in shades of beige, brown, blue, orange and red. Spiral heels, cuffs, side flaps and flat lace-ups had the audience hooked to the trendy designs.


I am going to post the remaining reviews soon, and hope that if life is planning on springing any more surprises at me, they’d at least be pleasant ones. Will soon be visiting my favorite lovely blogs and catching up on all the glorious fashion and lifestyle news from all of you. Till then, take care and wait for some super exciting, life changing news from me!

PHOTO SOURCE

Lakme Fashion Week Summer Resort 2010 Preview - Atithi Gupta

This young, sprightly designer made her debut entry as the Gennext Designer at the Lakme Fashion Week F/W 09, and has gone on to make her mark across the country, thorough her label, ATITHI GUPTA. This alumni of Pearl Academy of Fashion finds her design muse in every day elements of life and finds her creativity take wings in forms and structure. For the Spring Summer Resort Wear 2010 collection, Atithi will showcase her collection, ‘In the shades of summer sky... ’. A collection replete with her signature austerity infused with new lines, enhanced by finely wrought details.
The collection celebrates lightness and newness, with subtle details that are an ode to modern feminine essence… an essence of calm sophistication and grace. The transparent; light-weight look has an understated and exquisite effect, a blend of sobriety. The summer theme is expressed in urbane, light and monochrome fabrics, colors and silhouettes, calling for a new asceticism. Collection will feature flowing dresses, tunics, rompers and layered tops are combined with embroidered short shrugs and jackets, slim skirts and pants with details around the waist.



The Very Best Of Atithi's Previous Collection

The Big Fat Indian Wedding

Just a few months ago... and yet it seems like years ago. Things were so different then. This was at my sister-in-law's wedding. On 13th December. Less than a month ago, I had lost my mother. So the occasion was meant to give me a break from my grief.

Indian weddings are, like any wedding in any part of the world, family affairs. They are meant for bonding with your friends and family, and dressing up. There are so many ceremonies, and so many occasions to dress up for. I kept my make-up minimal. Thankfully, winters are good for my skin. And I found this salon in Lucknow where the lady did magic with my hair. The Sari is done by a very talented designer, Vishal Mehra.

Gitanjali Luxury Style Fest 09 - Day One

Last night, Gitanjali Group Chairman, Mehul Choksi and Massimo Carraro joined Priety Zinta and Neil Nitin Mukesh in hitting the gong to announce the launch of the Gitanjali Luxury Style Fest 09. Other faces spotted were Rituparna Sengupta, Narendra Kumar with Kadambari Lakhani, Nisha Jamwal, Bobby Kishan, Nikasha Tawadey, Rahul Sharma, Gayatri Khanna, Shatrujit Tikka singh, Parvez Damania, Krutika Desai, Vikram Raizada and Shaina NC. GLSF 09 is a three-day fest and Day 1 saw Rohit Bal, Ritu Beri and Wendell Rodriguez showcase their collections on the ramp.

Rohit Bal is known for incorporating an edgy attitude in his every collection. All his collections have a strong Couture element that many have tried to emulate, and failed. The highlight of his collection, as usual, was the use of fabric and textures to create sheer drama. See for yourself.









Photo courtsey: Filmicafe.com and oneindia.com

Shotcouture Anniversary Giveaway! (Extended to 20th January)

It came a bit late, but it's here! Shotcouture has completed a year, and it's time for a celebration. It's been a wonderful journey, and could not think of a better way to thank you all. I am not going to reveal all the gifts at once, though. Only the two beautiful Fabindia silk scarves, to begin with. The rest are equally, if not more exciting gifts. Wait and you shall be rewarded. To win one of these goodies, you have to answer a simple question.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT INDIAN FASHION?

There are SIX fabulous gifts to be won. Post your answer in the comments section of the blog-post. My decision on the prizes will be final. The Giveaway is open only to US, Canada, Europe and Asia.

The last date for sending in your comments has been extended to 20 January.

After the final names have been selected, I will send out individual mails informing the winners about their gifts.











EDIT
Alright... revealing the rest of the gifts. Fabindia silver pendants, Ritu Kumar Leather Clutch, and a Ritu Kumar Scraf; all up for grabs. I have received some lovely comments, but there is still time. Spread the word!

WLIFW - Ritu Kumar

Another collection that I just loved from the Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week was the Ritu Kumar Collection. Ritu Kumar has long been a favorite and I have several pieces from her collection in my own closet. In India, every bride must have at least a few clothes from her bridal collection. Of late, Ritu Kumar has become brighter and bolder in her color palette and designs. Designing for decades, Ritu Kumar is largely considered a revivalist in Indian fashion Industry. Her designs have been known to reflect the ancient traditions of Indian craftsmanship with a modern twist. Her new collection was a welcome change from her affinity for muted tones and earthy colors.

Here Ritu went all out with opulent floral motifs on brightly colored backgrounds. The accessories were an all too visible part of the collection, be it the massive handbags, or the very in-your face bangles! The lengths varied… as did the style and seeming inspiration. What remained common, however, was color, color and more color!








Mirror work made an appearance from pieces as varied as this sari with a captivating print and interesting fabric and this lovely poncho with a muted grey background.





The very Indian color, Indigo, found a new expression. My personal favorites were the very Western cuts blended seamlessly with distinctly ethnic motifs! Awesome!





Shiny, shimmery, sequined skirts made their presence felt, through different sections of the collections. Whether with the vibrant florals, or with the fiery Indigo, they made a chic statement.





The fabrics included jersey, silk, satin and indigo Khadi. And the color palette was, well, limitless. Crimson, however, seemed to be the designer’s real muse, appearing on the models’ lips, in the flowers in their hair, in the accessories and the shoes! All in all, a very satisfying collection from one of India’s foremost designers. I am waiting for it to hit the stores.


All images courtesy yahoo.com

WLIFW --- Priyadarshini Rao

Wednesday marked the start of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. The autumn-winter edition of the fashion week saw 82 designers showcasing their work over five days. Buyers from London, Paris, Tokyo and Europe lined up to pick and choose from among the best Indian fashion has to offer.

I have been following up the collections over the past few days and only a few really stood out for me. I look for designs that truly say “Indian” and not appear to be inspiration-starved interpretations of “Western” trends. One designer who hit a home run as far as my aesthetic sensibilities are concerned, is Priyadarshini Rao.

This year, the designer presented a very contemporary ethnic collection, with perfectly blended western influences. The highlights of the collection were a range of Kurtas and tops worn with churidars, saris worn with trendy bubble-tops, full length skirts with long jackets and empire line kurtas.





Priyadarshini is not a designer to shy away from color and colors were aplenty in her collection with ochres, olive greens, rusty reds, mud browns, orange, pink and turquoise blue making an appearance.





What I loved about the uber trendy bubble tops were the seamless way they can transition from a blouse to a perfect match for a pair of skinny jeans.





Pleated cuffs on the kurtas were another charming feature of the collection. In fact, the pleats were an integral part of her designs this year. They were there, on the sleeves, on the kurtas , and on the tops worn as blouses with long skirts or saris.





She gave the puffed sleeves a sleeker avatar, adding yet more character to the kurta dresses. I say kurta dresses, because some of them really could be worn as dresses. Priyadarshini has played with fabrics, getting playful now and then with motifs. Like in the kurta below, where a summery motif balances the warm colors of the dress.





Priyadarshini’s designs work on the wearability and minimalism principles. And this collection too was a reflection of her style that has made her one of the better selling designers in India. Her silhouettes are flattering and uncomplicated. And she works well with natural fabrics, creating collections that are a reflection of international trends, but with very Indian sensibilities.

I find her collection complete, with her designs transcending day and night wearability. I can see myself wearing her clothes for just about any occasion, such is her versatility.


# All photographs, courtesy yahoo.com